This year’s annual UCLS Conference, was held February 17-19, 2021 at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George, Utah with over 270 attendees, including several employees from Meridian Engineering. The conference is organized for Utah based professionals to stay current with best practices, latest laws and review the newest technology for the industry. Meridian’s ROW and survey team were happy to be involved throughout the conference, comprising of break-out sessions of key industry topics like State and Territorial Road Laws, GIS for Surveyors, and panel discussions on Ethics, Professional Consequences of Poor Decisions, and even a mock arbitration panel.

Our lead surveyor, Michael Nadeau, was a panelist for the Mock Arbitration session based on an arbitration that transpired in early 2020 where Michael was a panel member in the real arbitration proceedings authorized by the Property Rights Ombudsman’s Office. The arbitration involved a roadway in Weber County. The question posed to the arbitration panelists was, “Where is the location of the County Road” and involved land granted to the State of Utah in 1896 as a school section with settlers settling the area in 1859. The discussion and final arbitration award evolved into protecting the landowner’s bona fide property rights that had transpired prior to statehood. This knowledge is powerful when solving property boundary issues during the analysis stage of any given project related to 150 year old boundaries. As a Past Chairman of the Council, Michael also assisted with the Oath of Office for the new Executive Committee for 2021.

The conference can be a fun getaway as it is usually held in warmer climates, like the joint conference planned in Las Vegas next year. Two members of our team, Rob Hickman and Tyler Baron were able to participate in the skeet shoot competition with long-time Meridian colleague, Bryan Westover of HDR. It’s always a good time when Meridian employees can network with fellow associates and peers on this level.

At the end of the day, our team looks forward to the annual event for receiving professional development credits, networking with like-minded surveyors and just to recharge.

Meridian’s Survey Division Manager, Michael Nadeau has worked for the firm for over 18 years, serving as a Project Manager and Survey Coordinator with some of Utah’s largest entities including UDOT, DFCM, Salt Lake City, PacifiCorp and the LDS Church. Michael brings confidence to his clients with his professional style of management, design support, surveying, mapping, right of way design, and construction oversight.

All who know him would agree his accolades are well deserved. Michael’s dedication to the profession spans multiple facets and has impacted many other Surveyors in the community with his leadership and contributions, including: Adjunct Instructor at Salt Lake Community College and Utah Valley University, Chairman of the Surveying Program Advisory Committee at SLCC, Chairman of the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors (WFPS), WFPS Director for the Utah Council of Land Surveyors (UCLS), Past Chairman of the UCLS and Active Member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), and the International Right-Of-Way Association (IRWA).

Employees and field crews at Meridian will vouch that Michael is an enthusiastic manager to work with because of his zeal and go-getter attitude. “He always inspires us to do our best work every day”. As a life-long learner, Michael is an advocate for other employee’s individual strengths and encourages each of us with continuing education and professional development by building talent and skills, attending conferences, attaining licenses, or joining affiliations.

Michael’s wife, Sheri has been supportive of his committed work ethic and required life balancing. In her words, “Mike is a hard worker, loves his profession and is dedicated to success.”  Darryl Fenn, President of Meridian Engineering adds, “Mike has truly grown and matured to become one of the best surveyors this generation has known. Mike has applied himself to learn his profession in all aspects of surveying for the benefit of our clients. He is self-driven and forward thinking. He models what a surveyor should be to his students, co-workers and peers. We, at Meridian are proud of Mike and his accomplishments.”

Meridian is thankful to have such a key member of the intermountain based Survey community as an employee for the last 2 decades. We will be having a celebration luncheon in his honor at our corporate office on March 3, 2021.